EAST LANSING -- Travis Trice recognized the defensive miscommunication. Afraid to leave Adreian Payne alone on the perimeter, Northwestern's Sanjay Lumpkin switched too late and Trice lofted up a deep jumper without hesitation.

The shot came off the rim and Michigan State's best two rebounders -- Payne and sophomore guard Denzel Valentine -- weren't within 6 feet of the rim.

Every one of Kenny Kaminski's points against the Wildcats came in the paint. Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Low and behold, redshirt freshman Kenny Kaminski was doing his job, muscling Northwestern's JerShon Cobb underneath the basket for position and getting the offensive rebound. Kaminski put the ball back up and in.

Yes, the play was another example of Payne's effect on opposing defenses and their donation of resources to tracking the Spartans' biggest weapon. But it was also an example of Kaminski's increasing ability to perform in more areas than just perimeter shooting.

In fact, Kaminski went 0-for-2 from 3-point range in Michigan State's 85-70 win over Northwestern. Because of it, his career-high five rebounds went unnoticed and attracted few microphones in the locker room.

"Kaminski had a few rebounds," were the only words spoken of him by Tom Izzo. And that's a good thing.

A closer look at both the film and the box score show Kaminski is learning to do the small things, which is a good sign for him and the Spartans as they approach March, even if it's not making any highlight reels.

Kaminski's eight points in 19 minutes against Northwestern all came in the paint. Two of his four field goals were put backs after grabbing the offensive rebound.

"What happens is that they're so versatile. They start a big physical lineup and then they come in with Kaminski and he gives them the three-point shooting. But he's so versatile. He can play as a power forward and we're undersized as it is, so when they have that big lineup in there, I thought they were physically dominant."

Kaminksi will get a better test in the paint today, when No. 9 Michigan State (21-4, 10-2) takes on Nebraska (13-10, 5-6). The Cornhuskers -- and the majority of the Spartans' remaining Big Ten opponents -- have more size in the frontcourt than the Wildcats.

But Kaminski himself doesn't have to dominate the box score for the Spartans to be successful. Unheralded performances like the one against the Wildcats are a much better sign.